His teammates each shared similar sentiments before Emmett went over the last-minute plan a final time.
“Barclay already has a spot picked out and will notify us once he’s in position. Boone will cover the back and alert us of any threats coming from that direction. The rest of us will enter through the front and take out any tangos our sniper can’t see. Once that stage of the plan is complete, we’ll split up into two groups. Gwen, Lucas, and Draven will clear the second floor while Blake and I cover the lobby. You three will meet us back on the main floor, and we’ll continue our search from there.”
“Sounds like a plan to me.” Gwen grinned.
The woman clearly loved this part of the job.
Jethro looked his way with the same unreadable expression. “If you’re good, I’ll start making my way there.”
Emmett nodded. “Let us know if you run into trouble.”
A low grunt was the guy’s only response.
When Jethro turned around and walked away,Emmett handed Boone an earpiece so he could keep in contact.
“You see anything suspicious, let us know.”
The man inserted the small device in his ear with a slightly arched brow. “If I get canned over this, I expect to be offered a job.”
Emmett’s lips twitched. “You help me get Janie back in one piece, you can have whatever the hell you want.”
“Don’t go making promises your ass can’t keep,” Boone chuckled. Almost immediately, his tone lost all hints of humor. “Be careful in there.” His focus slid to the others. “That goes for all of you.”
That last part was added just as Boone’s dark gaze met Gwen’s. The blonde stared back, her lips lifting into a crooked grin.
“You, too, Detective,” she offered softly.
Putting the strange interaction to the side, Emmett told Boone, “You run into trouble, let us know.”
With a half-assed salute and a slight dip of his head, the man turned away, looking both ways before crossing the street.
Emmett’s gut tightened, knowing he needed to get this next part out of the way. They needed to hurry, but he couldn’t in good conscious let his team go into this thing without knowing the truth.
“Listen up.” He addressed the group as a whole. “Janie’s not just our first client. She’s . . . important.”
“Don’t worry, brother.” Blake’s blue eyes met his. “We’ve got your back.”
“Both your backs,” Gwen amended with a serious look.
In a show of solidarity, Lucas and Draven each gave a quick nod of their heads.
An unexpected rush of emotions threatened to steal Emmett’s focus, but he pushed it aside and got his head back into the game. On the inside, he was a fucking mess, but this was a game with too much at risk, and still way too many unknowns.
But it was a game he damn well intended to win. And his prize?
Having Janie back in my arms.
He motioned for the team to start moving. The street was much like Boone had described the area where Devon had been found. There were no cars in sight, and the buildings had boards on all the windows.
All except their target location.
Emmett’s pulse began to race faster the closer he and his teammates got. If Janie wasn’t here, he didn’t know what they would do. This was their best shot at finding her. Their only shot, really.
She has to be in there. Please, please, please, let her be in there.
“This is Barclay.” Jethro’s voice came through their earpieces. “I’m in position. I’ve got two tangos standing in the north section of the lobby. They’re approximately twelve feet from the door and, from what I can tell, they’re the only ones in that area. I’ve got a clean shot on them both.”
“Copy that,” Emmett immediately responded. “We’re approaching the entrance from the north now.”